Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Dynamic Contrast-enhanced-Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Spinal Bone Marrow in Healthy Individuals and the Influence of Age, Sex, Weight, and Smoking

Purpose or Learning Objective: Physiologic conditions and hematopoietic need induce changes in appearance and composition of bone marrow (BM) through conversion and reconversion. This continuous change and adaptation of BM often makes it challenging to discriminate normal from pathologic BM. With magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified as the optimal imaging technique for BM characterization, we aimed to investigate variation in semiquantitative diffusion-weighted (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI parameters in a healthy population and to study influencing factors to allow for better discrimination between physiologic and pathologic changes.